UNTHA XR shredder boosts capacity of German SRF specialist

Kuchl, 17.05.2016

One of the most experienced alternative fuel producers in Germany – Lober GmbH & Co. Abfallentsorgungs KG – has invested in the UNTHA XR3000C waste shredder to optimize its SRF plant.

For three generations, Lober has successfully handled the waste disposal for municipalities and industrial companies throughout the region, but in 2001, the company began processing waste to produce SRF.

50,000 tonnes of SRF per annum are now processed from industrial waste at Lober’s Neunburg plant, for use in cement kiln main burners. This makes Lober one of the most renowned and experienced SRF specialists in Germany.

But as a constantly growing business, there was the need to increase the capacity of the existing production line whilst maintaining quality and particle size. Facing these requirements, Lober contacted Austrian shredding specialist UNTHA.

Lober’s Operations Manager Mr Weig explains: “An intensive analysis of our operating data revealed that our post shredders could process more if we were able to achieve an optimised particle size and a steadier throughput in our pre-shredder. This would support our goal to increase capacity and, subsequently, our bottom line.

“However, with 15 years’ experience in running an SRF plant, we are renowned for reliably manufacturing and delivering a consistently high quality fuel. We therefore had to make a very careful decision about the shredding technology we chose – uptime, machine robustness and particle precision were all crucial. If we installed the wrong shredder, the impact on our reputation could be catastrophic.”

Unconvinced that its existing shredding technology would stand up to the challenge, and impressed by reports of the XR Cutter, Lober began talking to the team at UNTHA’s Austrian headquarters. It was claimed that this flexible shredder could handle an array of tough materials, however bulky, with impressive throughputs yet minimal power consumption.

Convinced that the XR could satisfy Lober’s demanding requirements, UNTHA’s sales manager Daniel Wresnik offered the waste shredder to the Neunberg plant on a six month trial. True to the client’s specification, it had to tackle the a variety of materials. The machine worked tirelessly throughout a three shift operation, handling 19 tonnes of material per hour to produce a homogenous 120 mm particle. But it wasn’t just the XR’s performance that shone.

Company owner Mr Lober elaborates: “We were very impressed with the low electrical power consumption of the XR, which measured just 105kWh even with such high capacity. In fact, the energy efficiency made the switch to UNTHA easy. Whilst the XR has the same sized motor as our previous machine, we now have a bigger shredder with higher throughputs, but we haven’t had to invest in a new power line or incur increased energy costs. This new technology is better for the environment too!”

Offering some final comments, UNTHA’s technical director Christian Lanner said: “With every single project that we undertake, we carefully consider how to satisfy a client’s specific requirements. In this instance, the brief was to ensure high throughputs with minimal operational disruption and no machine downtime.

“We were never in any doubt that the XR would deliver on all of these promises, and more. But of course the client has to believe this too. We’re delighted that we could convince them to switch from a machine they know very well. For them to have moved away from a manufacturer they’ve previously relied on for 12 years, indicates just how valuable the XR’s benefits really are.”